I Trained for My First Half Marathon With the Hoka Skyward X. Here Are My Thoughts

Starting with the apparent…let’s discuss its platform. Like I discussed, the pair I received has a stack height of nearly two inches. I’ll admit: I had serious doubts about how I could possibly walk, let alone run, in these babies without twisting my ankles—but more on that later.

Another thing that immediately caught my eye was how stunning these Hokas looked. I’m often not one to fuss over aesthetics for my workout stuff, however it was not possible to be impressed by the gorgeous gradient of pastel blue, salmon pink, and sunset orange-yellow on the midsole. It got me really excited to look (and hopefully feel) great on my runs—and the indisputable fact that they’re stylish enough to pair with my on a regular basis outfits was a significant bonus too (especially since these cost greater than $200).

Fit and feel

If you’ve got wide feet like me, you’ll probably love the brand new Hokas. My usual size (6.5, which I wear for each street and trainers) fit perfectly—my toes were snug but not squished or cramped, and my heel stayed put without slipping. That said, it’s possible you’ll want to think about sizing down if you will have narrow feet.

Comfort-wise, this shoe checked all of my boxes, which was surprising, given how intimidatingly tall it’s. For my first two days of testing, I actually just walked in them to ensure I wouldn’t break my ankles. But once I took them out on my runs, I used to be pleasantly surprised at how secure my feet felt. The Skywards were definitely type of heavy and didn’t have that super squishy, “walking on clouds” feel (because of that carbon fiber plate). But I actually preferred the sturdier, more stable support they provided for longer distances.

On the run

Since I’ve been training for my first half marathon, I wore these sneakers on all forms of runs in preparation—including a 10-miler, which on the time was my longest ever—and one thing stood out each time: My feet didn’t hurt in any respect! I’ve handled my justifiable share of running injuries, and I often experience a dull ache on the underside of my foot across the fifth mile. Not with these, though: No pain points or sharp twinges. I actually felt like I could keep

They were snug and hugged my feet excellent, giving me the type of support I desperately needed during uphills, which can be huge in my upcoming half in Central Park. Over time, I also got here to understand that the additional cushion wasn’t only for show: It blunted the impact of every step to make the experience pain- and ache-free (an actual lifesaver once I’d be pounding the pavement for nearly two hours).

That said, this super trainer isn’t the proper pick for variety of run. Unfortunately, they felt as heavy as they looked, weighing in at 9.2 ounces. So once I tried picking up the pace, it felt like I used to be dragging some extra load along. Personally, this wasn’t a deal-breaker for me for longer runs (where speed isn’t my priority), however it’s definitely something to think about for those who’re attempting to set a private record.

Bottom line

Honestly, this shoe deserves major props for being the one which has kept me injury-free and assured to tackle double-digit miles—which I’ve never experienced with every other sneaker, including the Hoka Mach X, my previous go-tos for shorter runs that left my feet aching after an hour.

I’ll probably still hold onto my Nike InfinityRN4 (one other of my standbys) for those quick sprints once I’m gunning for a private best. But overall, I’m so excited to have the Skywards in my rotation: They’ve really boosted my confidence as a brand new runner, and now I feel ready (excited, even) to tackle my first half marathon.